Tank Water Is Red In Color!

[becky0323]

Earlier we this week we had a sick cory. We treated the tank with bacterial meds and during the treatment the water was a little yellow in color which the meds said could happen. Unfortunately, the sick cory did not make it. Once the treatment was finished the water turned red the next day. We did a 50% water change last night. During the meds and after the readings have been the same:

Amonia 0
PH 7.6
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

Yesterday another cory had gotten ill and has also died.

We have a 20 gallon tank with a biowheel filter. There are now 1 cory, 3 platys, 6 neon tetras and 6 other schooling fish.
We are at a loss for what to do. The 50% water change last night really didn't help at, it is worse again today.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!!

 

[5teady_2012]

I would keep up with the water changes, when you treated with the meds, did you half the dosage? with corys been in the tank, you should of done that.

 

[guppy_man]

Hmmm....... have you added any wood recently without washing it? Although the tanins wouldnt cause your fish any harm, this would be the cause of your yellow/red water.

Or maybe your putting too much of the med in?

 

[becky0323]

I would keep up with the water changes, when you treated with the meds, did you half the dosage? with corys been in the tank, you should of done that.

No, we didn't half the doasge. I didn't know that we had to, I was told that it wouldn't harm the other fish

Hmmm....... have you added any wood recently without washing it? Although the tanins wouldnt cause your fish any harm, this would be the cause of your yellow/red water.

Or maybe your putting too much of the med in?

No, we don't have any wood in the tank. Must be that there was too much meds.

We went to our LFS and they said the color was due to the meds, so I guess we shall see. Don't know how much I believe they're info at the store........

 

[waterdrop]

Now that you are finished with the meds, I would recommend that you consider putting a layer of fresh carbon (aka activated charcoal) in your filter if you can fit it. You will need to rinse the carbon under tap water for a while to get rid of the loose dust particles. The carbon will be good for about 3 days, so you can replace it with another batch after that point or on the weekend, whenever its convenient. The carbon should help to remove the color and meds.

Certainly I would keep up the water changes as 5teady suggested. You might want to post the specific med over in the emergencies section as there are some there familiar with meds who might be of more help.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[becky0323]

Now that you are finished with the meds, I would recommend that you consider putting a layer of fresh carbon (aka activated charcoal) in your filter if you can fit it. You will need to rinse the carbon under tap water for a while to get rid of the loose dust particles. The carbon will be good for about 3 days, so you can replace it with another batch after that point or on the weekend, whenever its convenient. The carbon should help to remove the color and meds.

Certainly I would keep up the water changes as 5teady suggested. You might want to post the specific med over in the emergencies section as there are some there familiar with meds who might be of more help.

~~waterdrop~~

thanks for the info. We will keep up with the water changes. I believe that my husband put in a new carbon filter yesterday. I guess it will just take a while for the discoloration to go away?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, just about everything in this hobby takes time and patience.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

don't worry over the med, it was a bacterial one which is fine to use at full strength with scaleless fish.

yes cories are sensitive to some meds but not all, when advising you need to be careful to clarify what they are sensitive too so as not to induce un necessary panic.

it's generally just ich or parasite meds which affect scaleless fish.

as above, stick some carbon in the filter, and do a load of water changes to ensure the meds are removed. see how the land lies then.